(PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER/ THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
DISCUSSION … Council members and Mayor Huner discuss the previously held Tiny’s Tournament. Questions regarding the city’s involvement in the tournament and the renting out of fields was discussed.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Wauseon City Council held their meeting on Monday, August 5th. The meeting began at 5:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
Council first moved to approve minutes from the previous meeting held on July 15th, along with minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting held on August 1st.
Department head reports came next with Fire Chief Phil Kessler speaking first. Kessler stated that interviews were recently completed for the captain’s position.
Also, a generator was installed for the municipal building, and it has all worked well. The chief also discussed their previous two grants received which have previously been reported on by The Village Reporter.
Police Chief Kevin Chittenden spoke next, and informed council of a proposal received for the upgrading of radios and the consoles for dispatch. The cost of radio replacement will be around $15,000 and the cost of replacing consoles will be around $208,000.
The department will be looking for grants to help with the cost of this. Next, the chief discussed upcoming training between officers and prosecutors. Lastly, certificates were received for the department through the Ohio Collaborative.
Public Service Director Keith Torbet then spoke and first touched on an upcoming resolution. Resolution 2024-21 is normally done from time to time due to the purchase of salt and items like chemicals for the water plant.
The upcoming resolution was created to give the mayor approval to put the items out for bid and accept those bids without it needing to go to council each time.
Next, Torbet explained that Wauseon was contacted by ODOT to inform the city that they had been preliminarily approved for a grant totaling $350,000 to repave Fulton Street from Elm Street to Linfoot.
This is due to this part of the road being part of a state route.
At some point, legislation will be brought to council discussing this. Also, it was stated work on the rest of Fulton Street would be looked into, including looking at the cost.
Next, the pool will be closing on August 24th and work will be done to look at additional grant opportunities for a water line project on Burr Road. If a grant is not obtained for this project, a price tag of around $1 million will exist.
Director of Finance Jamie Giguere then spoke about income tax revenue. Revenue is down over last year but is up compared to the previous 2 years. It is thought that last year was an anomaly.
Additional conversation then took place regarding the Tiny’s Tournament. Council members put forth their desire to have the Director of Rec Programming and the President of the WRA come in to give a synopsis of the baseball tournament.
Law Director Tom McWatters III then delivered his report and stated that he was currently working on a number of code revisions. Three safety and code items will be looked at, including a new section for zoning certificates.
This new zoning certificate will be put in place for a new business or those wishing to change their business. The second item for revision will give more teeth for those responding in emergency situations if someone needs to enter into a property to take care of a hazardous issue.
The other section will apply to the use of application and parade permits, to help with requests coming in with such small of a window to get things approved. Council then moved to approve the following items.
Resolution 2024-21 – authorizing the mayor annually to advertise for bids for salt and chemicals, accept the lowest and best bids, and to enter into contracts with the lowest and best bidders; and declaring an emergency.
Resolution 2024-20 – authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement for the leasing of copiers and fax machines from Perry Pro Tech; and declaring an emergency.
Approval of the bills took place next before council moved to adjourn at 5:39 p.m.
